Collier County group to rally public for Chicago Cubs

Dec. 15, 2009

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1:10 A.M. — The folks behind the quest to bring the Chicago Cubs to Collier County for spring training will go public with their efforts at a mid-January rally in Cambier Park in Naples.

The event was discussed Monday night at a private gathering at the Naples home of Craig Bouchard, vice chairman of Esmark Inc., who's also involved in the quest.

"This was the first step towards taking our private transaction into the public forum," Bouchard wrote The News-Press in an e-mail.

Between 70 and 80 people attended Monday's event, according to Murray Hendel, vice chairman of the Collier County Tourist Development Council.

"There was electricity in the air, and when we described our proposal to the crowd it was very well received," Bouchard wrote. "The attendees were businessmen and -women as well as community leaders and just normal Cubs fans of Collier County."

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and President Crane Kenney weren't there.

"I've committed to Crane Kenney that Esmark will invest and help oversee a very successful project," Bouchard wrote. "We have a long way to go, but I have no doubt that we are a serious candidate. My instinct tells me that Naples offers more to the Cubs than any other community will offer."

Lyon said the meeting served as the official launch of Project Home Run, the new name for the pursuit of the Cubs.

The Cubs have trained in Mesa, Ariz., since 1979. Cubs leaders have visited Collier and met with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

No additional visit by Ricketts or Kenney has been announced.

Lyon knows Arizona officials have noted what's happening in Collier.

"I think they're getting a little worried," he said. "I think they're saying we're doing a lot of work here. ... I think we're still the underdog because they (Arizona officials) have 40 years of history."

The Mesa City Council reacted to the Florida threat last week by voting to offer to spend $750,000 to improve the Cubs' training facility.

The Cubs haven't trained in Florida since they were in Tampa from 1913 to 1916.

"It's certainly time to come home," Lyon said.

Part-time Naples resident Jim Wimbiscus, 72, is following the Cubs story with great interest. He said he's been to 55 Cubs opening-day games in Wrigley Field, starting in 1946, when he was 9. Now that he's heard about the Cambier rally, he's excited.